Australian Cattle Dog

[kian]

I'm back...
Daisy wants to be part of the pack and it okay for the others to growl at her, not attack her however. Give Daisy her food and give the "eat" command. If she doesn't eat it after 15 minutes, take it out. If she tries to go after the other dogs food I would snatch her up straightaway and say "leave it"! Then I would take her back to her food and try it again.
Daisy is really young and should be eating with her littermates, that is of course impossible so now you must encourage her to eat on her own. If the food you are feeding is dry, try adding a little chicken broth to soften it up and hopefully encourage her to eat.
Like you it had been awhile since having a pup, 16 years to be exact and it was a good re-training tool for me to use what I teach people. Your little Daisy needs lots of rest as she is so young and an overtired puppy makes for a whining, cranky one. She needs a quiet place to settle down and yet still feel part of the pack. Try putting in a t-shirt you have worn and also rubbed on the other dogs fur and then put in there with her. Her crate needs to feel safe, give her chews, kongs, anything that is safe and then put it somewhere fairly quiet and see if she settles down. She will cry, I promise, ignore it, leave the house, do anything you must to ensure that she falls asleep on her own. This will pay off in the long haul, I tell you this from my personal experience with Allie. I did the same thing with her and the payoff was so worth it! She knows the word for bedtime and I still have to use it at times in the night when she wants to play. I say "night, night" and she cuddles right to me. (this is the first dog I have ever let in the bed!!)
You already know that consistency is the key here. You can do this with lots of patience!!! I hope I gave you some direct advice, let me know and keep in touch! I will be online, just a little busy now.

[BCE360]

I am an experienced dog owner (Boxers, Dobermans, Bull Terriors, miniature poodles to name a few) and I just rescued a 3 month old Australian cattle dog mix (still unsure of the other half). She is great. Extrememly intelligent - to a point that is astonishing. I've had her for about 2 weeks and she is attached to me, almost completely potty trained, and knows most of the basic commands (sit, down, paw, come etc...). The one thing I find odd is that she does not like to cuddled. I worry because prior to her being adopted by me she was tied to a tree for the first 1.5 months of her life and then was put into a high kill shelter so she has not had much contact with a single person for more than a short time (save myself)- I thought maybe this was some psychological deficit. When she first arrived here she was very very very hyper but calmed down quite a bit to what I would consider normal for a puppy. She also did not like to be held down much or restricted in anyway but has gotten much better in the time Ive had her. However, unlike any puppy Ive ever had, she still does not like to cuddle with people. I can hold her and walk with her and she doesnt mind that, as long as it isnt for too long of a time. I also thought that she wasnt getting enough exercise. This was a major concern in rescuing her since I do live in a large city, however I lead a very active lifestyle and she is outside for at least 3 hours each day not including playtime. She does sleep in her crate but never when she is out of it.

Am I being overconcerned or is this just what is to be expected from a ACD puppy?

[kian]

3 month old puppies do not normally like to "cuddle", it the active time to explore and play. ACD do attach themselves to the main alpha and need to be socialized early on to avoid any aggressive behaviors toward anyone not in their pack.

At 3 months I would not worry about a cuddling pup, but training, play and socialization. None of my pups were cuddling at 3 months and if they did cuddle it was for a short time.

Being active is good and there should lots of people to socialize in the city. Where I live in the country, ACD's are always respected as they don't usually get the socialization where you have a advantage.

[lola521]

My heeler mix, Sophia, loves everybody! And loves to cuddle as well...well when she's tired and ready to stop running around which is every waking minute practically. We have a lake that we hike which gives her lots of exercise. She will wait and come on cue, and walks by my side very well. She is 14 weeks old, and already knows some simple tricks, she still needs a little work with rolling over. She is my first puppy. I don't know anything about raising them and am learning. So I am known to ask some pretty dumb questions. I know she is a working dog and I do at times would like to know someone that has a cow!! Besides the lake; here at home she has the run of two large yards.

[kian]

Sophia is a beauty! Do you know what she is mixed with? With mixed breeds it is uncertain which traits will appear and she may or maynot have the herding instinct. There are no dumb questions with true and honest owners who want to learn, so ask away!

[lola521]

Sophia is a beauty! Do you know what she is mixed with? With mixed breeds it is uncertain which traits will appear and she may or maynot have the herding instinct. There are no dumb questions with true and honest owners who want to learn, so ask away!

Sophia's foster Mom said her vet told her that her mix was aussie sheppard or perhaps border collie. Sophia's Mom is the heeler half so we know for sure about that. I absolutely love your dog!!

[Happywith4kids]

Hello...I am new to this forum and would love some advice on our ACD puppy. We have had her for a week now and absolutely adore her and are amazed by how intelligent she is. If anyone is out there and in the mood for some questions, please reply.

[kian]

What are your questions

[wyorancher]

I'm back. Farming has slowed a bit. Well not that much. Jake has been making improvements. Just when we think all is going OK he comes up with another surprise for us. Here we are at almost 2 years old and he still sneaks off into a corner to do his jobs. Wife's sewing basket in her sewing room is one of his favorites. The case of beer in the corner of the sun room is another favorite. We went on a 1 week vacation with his crate in the back of the pickup without the door attached. He did well no accidents at all. He is on a chain attached to the middle of the pickup bed. Half the time he prefers the PU bed but on major highways he rides inside. We come home and when ever we go to town he loves to decorate my PU bed with poop. Not loose poop. He had to work to get this stuff out. I guess just like a kid no toys were purchased for him so I get punished. Biggest problem we still have is at times he will not come when called. This concerns me since vehicles travel pretty fast past our rural farm. When I call him he turns around and looks at me then just goes on like he knows I have no control at that distance. We love Jake, but it sure is trying at times.

[Oliver & Henry's Mum]

Mel, if you make about post about "recall" in the Behaviour Section, I am quite sure Kian will see it and be able to offer some really good tips, as well as several other members. I also know that Kian is quite busy working with one of her dogs right now for a 3 day competition that is just around the corner, so she will be "hit and miss" for a wee bit.

Although I never like to see dogs in the bed of a Pick-Up, at least you have the good sense to "secure" Jake so he can't fall out, and I was even more pleased to read that when you go on major thoroughfares, he is inside the Cab. I am quite sure if you wish to stop him from "punishing" you for not buying him a treat or toy (just like a child ) putting him inside the Cab will cure that....or not. (Spin the wheel and take your chances).

I did chuckle when you said he had to "work at it" so you know it was intentional.

Jake is a very smart fellow. I think you have come a really long way with him. I can see how the Sewing Basket would be "fun", as well as the Beer Case. I am going to hazard a guess that those are the two items touched most often by your wife, and yourself, respectively.

It's good to hear from you again. If I remember, I will mention this post to Kian and if she has time, perhaps she will post in here with some helpful recall tips. Many of our members would presume that a post in here would be more about the Breed specifics of your dog rather than an issue that requires a resolution so they may not be checking this thread.

I know our Western provinces such as Alberta and Saskatchewan have had some very interesting weather this summer and was wondering if your area of Montana has been having much of the same. It's been an odd summer, and year even, to say the least.